Russia blocks Facebook access

Russia on Friday said it would block access to Facebook, adding to the country’s growing isolation during the invasion of Ukraine and closing another avenue for Russians to learn about the war.

Russia’s media regulator Roskomnadzor said in a statement that it would block access in response to Facebook’s decision this week Block Russian media like RT and Sputnik for people within the European Union.

“On March 4, 2022, it was decided to block access to the Facebook network (owned by Meta Platforms, Inc.) in the Russian Federation,” the regulator said.

It cited “26 cases of discrimination against Russian media and information sources,” acts it said were prohibited by Russian information dissemination laws.

It was initially not clear whether the decision only applies to Facebook or also to other services such as Instagram and WhatsApp, all of which belong to the parent company Meta.

Nick Clegg, Meta’s president of global affairs, criticized the decision, saying the company will fight back.

“Soon, millions of ordinary Russians will be cut off from reliable information, deprived of their day-to-day opportunities to connect with family and friends, and prevented from speaking out,” Clegg said in a statement.

“We will continue to do everything we can to restore our services so that they continue to be available for people to express themselves and take action safely and securely,” he said. He didn’t say how the company could restore services.

The company does not disclose how many people in Russia use its services, but one does treasure put the total of about 70 million people, or almost half of the country.

Tensions between Russia and US tech and media companies have increased since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered Troops in Ukraine on February 21. Google on Thursday exposed All advertising in Russia and earlier this week blocked access to RT and Sputnik across the EU

European Commission President Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen has criticized “the Kremlin’s media machinery” and EU officials have met with executives from tech companies to discuss restrictions.

Inside Russia, Putin’s government has intensified a broad crackdown on independent and foreign-based journalists.

“Everything that is not propaganda will be eliminated,” said Dmitri Muratov, a journalist who received the Nobel Peace Prize last year. told The New York Times.

BBC News announced earlier Friday that it would stop reporting in Russia after the Russian parliament passed a law criminalizing the dissemination of “false” information about the country’s armed forces.

Russia’s communications regulator has also restricted access to Voice of America, Radio Liberty and other foreign media outlets for the same reason, state news agency RIA reported.

Independent radio station Echo of Moscow and television station TV Rain also said they would cease operations, while German broadcaster Deutsche Welle was completely unavailable.

This story evolves. Please check back for updates.

Rachel Elbaum and Chantal DaSilva contributed.